digitalCG

Castle Hill

digitalCG — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 09:00:00 +0000

The history of human activity on Castle Hill, Huddersfield, goes back over 4000 years. The site was developed as an iron age hill fort, surrounded by defensive ditches and ramparts. In the Middle Ages there was indeed a castle on the hill, of which only the well remains. The present Victoria Tower was built to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee of 1897.

First photographic outing of 2026, using the car door as a makeshift stabilising aid.

Triple Point

digitalCG — Tue, 30 Dec 2025 13:24:14 +0000

The Castlefield Viaduct, opened in 1893, carried heavy rail into the heart of Manchester through to 1969. It sat disused until the 2020’s when, no doubt inspired by the success of The High Line in New York, work began to turn this long derelict infrastructure into an urban ‘sky garden’.

The area at the end of the current development provides a view of the planned expansion along a further stretch of the viaduct. Sitting there you are taking in the past, present and future all at once. To appropriate a chemistry term, these chairs represent a triple point of time.

Movie Night

digitalCG — Fri, 28 Nov 2025 20:12:00 +0000

At over 110 years old the magnificent Alhambra in Keswick has seen the introduction of ‘talkies’, colour film and digital projection, has been used as a bingo hall during lean times and in a segment dominated by large multiplex cinemas remains a family owned, independent business. A small second screen was added in 2020 and the venue hosts an annual film festival. It’s one of my favourite cinemas in one of my favourite towns.

Mama

digitalCG — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 23:08:00 +0000

There’s a viewpoint fairly close to my workplace that is perfect at certain times of year for a sunset photo walk to wind down after a full day tolerating other humans.

Whilst there are several routes to the top, I typically avoid the one that is a pure leg burning hike up a long steep set of steps. Not this lady, who arrived huffing and puffing after powering this pushchair straight up them!

No wonder this kid was in awe of his mama as she took a well deserved breather.

Featured as Aminus3.com Spotlight image, 26th September 2025.

Hit the Trails

digitalCG — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 13:58:10 +0000

I only took to running for exercise after a nasty head injury finally ended my football days during 2022. The following year was spent building fitness and knowledge and 2024 was spent pursuing improved times over the 5k and 10k distances, building up to a half marathon – plus taking a few event photos, such as this from the Heights Ultra Trail.

During 2025 focus switched to longer distances and trickier surfaces and in early August, exactly three years (to the week) from that blood soaked hospital visit, I completed my first 50km/31mi Ultramarathon. Not bad for an old geezer.

Decisions Decisions

digitalCG — Mon, 18 Aug 2025 09:56:00 +0000

A little street photo from La Boqueria market, Barcelona, probably converted to mono to help mask the noise profile of the Pentax K20 I used for this image. Years of software advancements mean that reprocessing older digital images can now yield better results than were possible at the time, particularly true for upscaling, denoising and sharpening.

As travel isn’t the accessible option it once was, maybe it’s time to trawl the archives searching for lost treasure.

Hayburner #53

digitalCG — Fri, 02 May 2025 17:00:00 +0000

In early 2025 digitalCG was drafted in to photograph this unrestored UK RHD 60’s Porsche 912 for Hayburner magazine, the world’s leading independent classic aircooled VW and Porsche publication. The fickle Pennine winter weather meant it took two sessions to complete but a comprehensive set of images was delivered and Issue 53 (Herbie themed, naturally) contains 25+ digitalCG photos across nine and a half pages to accompany the full story of car and owner(s).

At the time of writing there’s already another completed Hayburner project in the queue and hopefully we’ll find further opportunities down the line.

Contemplate

digitalCG — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 14:22:00 +0000

The week prior to writing this I was probably at a lifetime peak of focus and fitness, having trained and prepared for my first ever half marathon. There were two goals, one being to run sub 1:50, the other to raise £250 for charity. Aside from a couple of calf issues, which I seem to be prone to, the training block went ludicrously well. Even my biggest critic, the damned Garmin algorithms, seemed to agree.

In the end both goals were demolished, running a 1:43 (with plenty left in the tank) and raising £911 for Maggie’s cancer care. Thank you to friends, family and colleagues who helped obliterate both targets, the whole experience and hard miles were worth it.

1 daft idea to run my first half marathon
1 successful ballot entry
10 week training plan
56 days run
546km covered
£911 raised for charity

Right now that post-high lull has definitely set in. Without a goal, the feeling of purpose has waned. Without regimented training, there’s much less structure to each day and far more time to contemplate life – not always a positive with my brain.

Maybe it’s time to set a new challenge for 2025… an Ultramarathon, perhaps? Watch this space!

Empire State of Mind

digitalCG — Fri, 17 Nov 2023 10:37:00 +0000

There are so many things to see and do in New York that it’s almost inevitable you’ll need to make some tough choices regarding your experiences whilst on a short break. When it came to tall buildings I opted to get a view of, rather than from, the Empire State Building.

Seems I wasn’t the only one with that idea.

Featured as Aminus3.com Colour Spotlight, 17th November 2023.

Hundred Year Stone

digitalCG — Fri, 27 Oct 2023 14:03:00 +0000

Commissioned by the National Trust in its Centenary Year this Borrowdale glacial boulder, sculpted by Peter Randall-Page, sits on the shore of Derwentwater between Calf Close Bay and Broomhill Point near Keswick. The design represents ten segments across ten rings – a century.

The high range of lake levels and hugely variable weather of the region means it is rarely the same upon repeat visits.